Weeks after causing a world-scale headache for networks on both sides of the Atlantic, it remains unclear who leaked the first episode of the new Doctor Who series to the Internet – except that it was someone in Canada. Someone who is now unemployed.

That’s according to a vaguely worded statement from the BBC which, after an investigation, traced its wayward show ‘to a third party company in Canada which had an early preview copy for legitimate purposes.’ The Beeb did not name names, but added that the culprit has been fired and that it may take legal action. The revived series aired in the U.K. on March 26 and on CBC on April 5.

It is not entirely clear if ‘third party’ could include CBC. When the episode got loose in early March, the Brits seemed to suspect their Canuck cousins. CBC bought the series but, contrary to early reports, did not coproduce it. Calls to the BBC for clarification were not returned.

The Ceeb ran its own investigation, but will only say that the leak came from outside the network, although spokesperson Ruth Ellen Soles had, in an earlier report, suggested that a supplier could be to blame.

It has also been suggested that the leak could have been a publicity stunt.

Meanwhile, series star Christopher Eccleston has already backed out of the expected next season, remarking that he did not want to be typecast as the famed time-traveling alien. Eccleston was the ninth person to play the doctor, who, conveniently, changes into a new body every few years. Bill Nighy (The Canterbury Tales) and Richard E. Grant (Gosford Park) are said to be up for the part.

The original Doctor Who ran from 1963 to 1989.

-www.cbc.ca

-www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/